James Russell Hopson

James Russell Hopson, Bridgehamptoner, Army veteran, and 27-year employee of the Southampton Town Highway Department, died at the age of 90 on Sept. 19 at Southampton Hospital.

Mr. Hopson moved to Bridgehampton when he was 5 and attended the public school there. He found employment at the I.M. Young potato farm, and later worked at Joseph Hren’s nursery in Amagansett and at Pulver Gas in Bridgehampton. He retired from the Highway Department in 1986.

From 1943 to 1945, Mr. Hopson was stationed in Central Europe as an Army electrician, later receiving the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal.

On May 25, 1957, he married Mary M. Bess. They had one child.

For many years Mr. Hopson, who was known as Rockie, served on the usher board at the First Baptist Church of Bridgehampton. In his spare time after he retired he often went bowling with friends at the former East Hampton Bowl.

At home, he grew flowers and vegetables in his garden, and enjoyed tending to the fishpond he built in his yard.

Mr. Hopson was born on Feb. 14, 1923, in Drewryville, Va., to John and Lillar Hopson.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years and a daughter, Brenda Turner of Manhattan. He is also survived by two grandsons, Paul Jones of Brooklyn and Sean M.V. Turner of Wyandanch, and a great-grandson, Sean Turner. Three sisters, Mary Taylor of Riverhead and Mamie Johnson and Martha Craggette of Southampton, survive, as does a brother, William Hopson of East Hampton. He leaves numerous nieces and nephews.

Four brothers and two sisters died before him.

On Sept. 23, a funeral service was held at the First Baptist Church of Bridgehampton, where the Rev. Michael Smith officiated and the Rev. Henry Faison Jr. delivered the eulogy. Mr. Hopson was buried at Shinnecock Cemetery in Southampton.